Pavement Markings

In 2014, the City began to expand the use of durable markings. Durable markings are more visible and last longer than regular road paint. When major roadways and high-speed freeways are built or rehabilitated, durable markings will be applied by a contractor. In 2016, 17 lane kilometres of durable markings were applied.

When does line marking take place?

Work begins in the spring once the roads are dry and nighttime temperatures consistently reach above 5°C. In addition, roadways must be swept prior to work so paint can adhere properly. The painting season ends in late October, weather permitting.

Crews work five days a week, Monday to Friday, for a 10-hour shift (barring any maintenance/repair issues). When it rains, equipment is shut down until the roads are dry. It's hard to determine specific dates for this kind of work because it is coordinated during or after other road work and is weather dependent.

High-traffic areas, such as downtown and Idylwyld Drive, are generally painted during the night to minimize disruption to traffic.

Every year, we paint lines on approximately 230 streets and approximately 924.3 kilometres of lines per round of painting.

Different markings may get painted more than once a year:

Lane lines, edge lines and centre lines are painted three times each year

Crosswalks are painted at least twice a year

Sharrows, chevrons and parking stall lines are painted once a year

Road markings are repainted if they have been removed due to paving, patching, etc.

What kinds of line markings are in the city?

Shared Cycling Lane Markings
Quantity painted per year: approximately 585
Frequency of painting: each sharrow is painted at least once per year